# Formatting

Before using a LTO, it needs to be formatted. When Canister detects a non-formatted tape it will prompt to format the tape.

## Tape Initialization

Up to LTO-9, tapes do not require initialization. When inserting a new LTO-9 tape into a drive for the first time, the LTO drive will spool through the whole tape. This process can take considerable time. If you do no have this luxury, some vendors like Symply sell pre-initialized media.

If your drive is of an older generation that LTO-9, you can simply insert a tape and continue with formatting.

## Formatting

Each LTO tape needs to be formatted before usage, kind of like with a hard disk. If a tape is not yet formatted, Canister will prompt you to do so:

<figure><img src="/files/SdmpJeGwfvMq3x6s9v5p" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Each LTFS-formatted tape requires a name and may use an optional serial. A serial *must* be 6 characters.

<figure><img src="/files/79QgHeBhRImdmGWIGxmo" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

If you do not have a system in place to track tapes using the serial, we suggest allowing Canister to prepopulate the serial using the date. This simple mechanism results in a value like `240724` for July 24th, 2024, and gives context for when a tape was created.

<figure><img src="/files/9JV5Klh7za1c0DDPHqv8" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Erasing Tapes

{% hint style="info" %}
LTFS requires a tape to be unmounted before erasing a tape. If `Erase` is disabled, first eject the tape.&#x20;
{% endhint %}

Due to LTO's linear nature, files written on tape cannot be deleted without erasing the whole tape. Erasing a tape can be done in-app through the LTO menu:

<figure><img src="/files/pAJCxEM1kSFHEe9XZ37S" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Renaming Tapes

{% hint style="info" %}
This feature is not supported on Canister for Windows, yet.
{% endhint %}

As of Canister for Mac `23.1` it's possible to rename tapes without formatting. In order to rename, the tape cannot be mounted. Changing a tape's serial is not possible without a format.

<figure><img src="/files/bvBAFmH0TzMSg4UgC50w" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Discovery Channel-Compatibility

Some years ago, the Discovery Channel created a delivery spec for LTO. This specification requires the party delivering LTO to Discovery Channel to add a specific XML file to the root of the tape. This XML file needs to be written to the index partition instead of the data partition of LTFS tapes. A specific LTFS setting is required when formatting a tape to make this possible. As this setting is not obstructing any non-Discovery Channel workflow, all tapes formatted by Canister adhere to this spec.

## Netflix-Compatibility

When delivering tapes to a major studio such as Netflix, it's best practice to disable LTO hardware compression. The `Netflix-Compatibility` option does just that and is available when you  `Format` or `Erase` a tape.

## NanoPure™️ Support

{% hint style="info" %}
Canister for Windows does not support NanoPure tape media.
{% endhint %}

From `23.2` onward, Canister for Mac supports [NanoPure](https://magstor.com/pages/nanopure) tape media by MagStor.\
\
NanoPure tapes are pre-cleaned, with calibration data recorded to the Cartridge Memory after testing. Canister uses this information to calculate system health at the end of each Archive or Retrieve operation. Each Transfer Log will contain a NanoPure score: `Good`, `Average` or `Poor`.

In the event of a poor result you might consider retiring the tape, or contacting your hardware vendor for a thorough diagnostic check.


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